Method for actuating a closure element arrangement in a motor vehicle

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a method for actuating a closure element arrangement in a motor vehicle, wherein the closure element arrangement has a closure element, a drive arrangement associated with the closure element, a control arrangement and a sensor arrangement having at least one sensor element that is particularly in the form of a proximity sensor, wherein operator control event monitoring involves the control arrangement being used to monitor the sensor measured values from the sensor arrangement for whether there is a predetermined operator control event, and the result of the operator control event monitoring is taken as a basis for actuating the drive arrangement, the mechanical configuration of the motor vehicle being able to be altered by an adjusting process and/or by a fitting process during use based on normal operation.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.14/398,335, filed Oct. 31, 2014, which is a U.S. National StageApplication under 35 U.S.C. 371 of International Patent ApplicationSerial No. PCT/EP2013/001296, filed May 2, 2013, which claims priorityfrom German Patent Application No. DE 10 2012 008 530.3, filed May 2,2012. The disclosures of each of the above-mentioned applications areincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE TECHNOLOGY

The invention relates to a method for actuating a closure elementarrangement in a motor vehicle and to a control arrangement for carryingout a method.

BACKGROUND

Motor vehicles today are increasingly equipped with closure elementsthat can be operated by a motor. By way of example, such closureelements may be doors, such as side doors and tailgates, particularlysliding doors, hatches, particularly rear hatches, boot lids, bonnets,cargo space floors or the like in a motor vehicle. In this respect, theterm “closure element” has a broad meaning in the present case.

An added-convenience function that is becoming increasingly importanttoday is the automatic operation of the motor-driven rear hatch of amotor vehicle. In the case of the known method (DE 20 2005 020 140 U1)on which this invention is based, provision is made for an operatorcontrol event from the operator, in this case a foot movement by theoperator, to prompt the motor-driven opening of the rear hatch.

The known method makes use of a control arrangement and a sensorarrangement, and in the course of operator control event monitoring thecontrol arrangement is used to monitor the sensor measured values fromthe sensor arrangement to determine whether there is a predeterminedoperator control event.

The sensor arrangement has two capacitive sensors that extend over theentire width of the motor vehicle. An operator control event, in thiscase a foot movement by the operator, can easily be sensedelectronically.

Difficulties can arise when, during use based on normal operation, themechanical configuration of the motor vehicle is altered by an adjustingprocess or by a fitting process. By way of example, such a change ofconfiguration can trace back to the fitting or adjustment of towcouplings, bicycle holders, roofracks or the like. In principle, thesemotor vehicle components can disturb the sensing of the operator controlevents by the sensor arrangement. This applies particularly when thecontrol arrangement and the sensor arrangement are optimized for a quiteparticular configuration, particularly for a configuration without towcoupling or the like.

The invention is based on the problem of designing and developing theknown method such that robust operator control event monitoring isensured even when the configuration of the motor vehicle changes.

SUMMARY

The above problem is solved for a method as described herein.

A fundamental aspect is the basic consideration that the operatorcontrol event monitoring can be conditioned to the mechanicalconfiguration of the motor vehicle in order to obtain optimum monitoringresults.

Specifically, it is proposed that the control arrangement be first ofall used to sense the mechanical configuration of the motor vehicle andthat the operator control event monitoring be then modified on the basisof the respectively ascertained mechanical configuration of the motorvehicle. This means quite generally that a change of configuration forthe motor vehicle can result in modification of the operator controlevent monitoring so that a good monitoring result is ensured even afterthe change of configuration. The term “modification” of the operatorcontrol event monitoring has a broad meaning in the present case. Itquite generally comprises a change in the parameterization of theoperator control event monitoring.

By way of example, the mechanical configuration can be sensed by sensorsthat are associated with the respective motor vehicle component. It isalso conceivable for changes of configuration to be made by motor-drivenadjustments that are triggered and recorded by the control arrangement.

In an embodiment, a change of configuration involves, by way of example,a tow coupling being extended into an operating position or being fittedto the motor vehicle as appropriate. Particularly if the operatorcontrol event to be monitored is a foot movement by the operator, it ispossible for a change of configuration relating to the tow coupling toresult in shadowing and reflection effects that adversely affect themonitoring result.

Some measures for modifying the operator control event monitoring aredescribed herein. These clarify the broad comprehension of the term“modification” of the operator control event monitoring in the presentcase. The modification ranges from a change in threshold values throughthe change in the operator control event model on which the operatorcontrol event monitoring is based to a change in the actuation of thesensor arrangement.

According to an embodiment a control arrangement for carrying out themethod based on the proposal is described herein.

Reference may be made to all the comments pertaining to the method basedon the proposal that are suitable for explaining the controlarrangement.

In an embodiment, a method for actuating a closure element arrangementin a motor vehicle, wherein the closure element arrangement has aclosure element, a drive arrangement associated with the closureelement, a control arrangement and a sensor arrangement having at leastone sensor element that is particularly in the form of a proximitysensor, wherein operator control event monitoring involves the controlarrangement being used to monitor the sensor measured values from thesensor arrangement for whether there is a predetermined operator controlevent, and the result of the operator control event monitoring is takenas a basis for actuating the drive arrangement, the mechanicalconfiguration of the motor vehicle being able to be altered by anadjusting process and/or by a fitting process during use based on normaloperation, wherein the control arrangement is used to sense themechanical configuration of the motor vehicle and the operator controlevent monitoring is modified on the basis of the mechanicalconfiguration of the motor vehicle.

In an embodiment, the mechanical configuration of the motor vehiclecomprises the mechanical configuration of the closure element,particularly the position of the closure element.

In an embodiment, a tow coupling can be extended into an operatingposition by way of a change of configuration or can be fitted to themotor vehicle in an operating position, and/or in that a bicycle carriercan be fitted to the motor vehicle in an operating position by way of achange of configuration.

In an embodiment, at least one operator control event is defined as afoot movement by the operator, such as the sensor arrangement has atleast one sensor element in the form of a proximity sensor that isarranged in or on a rear panelling portion, particularly the rearbumper, of a motor vehicle and that in some embodiments extends over asubstantial portion of the width of the motor vehicle, such as in thatat least one operator control event is defined as a to and fro movementby the foot of the operator, such as in that during the operator controlevent the at least one sensor element produces a pulsed time profile forthe sensor measured values—sensor pulse.

In an embodiment, a predetermined change of configuration, particularlythe adjustment or fitting of a tow coupling to an operating position,prompts a decrease in sensor measured values as a result of shadowingand reflection effects or the like.

In an embodiment, the operator control event monitoring is designed suchthat the sensing of sensor measured values, particularly of sensorpulses, above an upper threshold and/or below a lower threshold is notassociated with an operator control event and in that the configurationof the motor vehicle is taken as a basis for altering the upperthreshold and/or the lower threshold, such as in that adjustment orfitting of a tow coupling to an operating position involves the upperthreshold and/or the lower threshold being lowered.

In an embodiment, when the closure element is in the open position theoperator control event monitoring is conditioned such that the danglingand possibly swinging legs of a person sitting in the bodywork openingassociated with the closure element are not sensed as an operatorcontrol event in the course of operator control event monitoring.

In an embodiment, an operator control event has an associated operatorcontrol event model comprising signal characteristics, in that in thecourse of the operator control event monitoring the control arrangementis used to monitor whether the sensor measured values correspond to thesignal characteristics of the operator control event model and in thatthe operator control event model is produced on the basis of themechanical configuration of the motor vehicle or is selected from anumber of stored operator control event models on the basis of themechanical configuration of the motor vehicle or is parameterized on thebasis of the mechanical configuration of the motor vehicle.

In an embodiment, an operator control event has an associated operatorcontrol event set of characteristics comprising signal characteristics,in that in the course of the operator control event monitoring thecontrol arrangement is used to monitor whether the sensor measuredvalues correspond to the signal characteristics of the operator controlevent set of characteristics and in that the operator control event setof characteristics is produced on the basis of the mechanicalconfiguration of the motor vehicle or is selected from a number ofstored operator control event sets of characteristics on the basis ofthe mechanical configuration of the motor vehicle or is parameterized onthe basis of the mechanical configuration of the motor vehicle.

In an embodiment, at least one operator control event produces a pulsedtime profile for sensor measured values from at least one sensor elementand in that at least one signal characteristic is/are defined as a widthand/or as a height and/or as an edge gradient and/or as a curvature ofportions of the sensor pulses and/or as a time offset between two sensorpulses from a sensor element.

In an embodiment, the course of the operator control event monitoringthe sensor measured values are ascertained by means of the controlarrangement on the basis of a signal processing method, in that thesignal processing method is defined by a signal processing set ofparameters with signal processing parameters such as minimum signallevel, temporal measurement resolution or amplitude measurementresolution and in that the signal processing set of parameters isselected from a number of stored signal processing sets of parameters onthe basis of the mechanical configuration of the motor vehicle or isparameterized on the basis of the mechanical configuration of the motorvehicle.

In an embodiment, the operator control event monitoring comprisesdigitization of the sensor measured values and in that the subsequentevaluation of the digitized measurement data, particularly the matchingagainst the operator control event set of characteristics, is performedon the basis of an evaluation method, in that the evaluation method isdefined by an evaluation set of parameters with evaluation parameterssuch as computation accuracy or the type of matching algorithm, and inthat the evaluation set of to parameters is selected from a number ofstored evaluation sets of parameters on the basis of the mechanicalconfiguration of the motor vehicle or is parameterized on the basis ofthe mechanical configuration of the motor vehicle.

In an embodiment, the course of the operator control event monitoringthe sensor arrangement is actuated by means of the control arrangementon the basis of the mechanical configuration of the motor vehicle, suchas in that the sensor arrangement is arranged in or on a rear panellingportion, particularly the rear bumper, of the motor vehicle and in someembodiments extends over a substantial portion of the width of the motorvehicle, in that the sensor arrangement is in elongate form and has,over its length, at least two sensor sections that can be actuatedseparately from one another by means of the control arrangement and inthat the sensor sections are actuated individually, in groups oraltogether on the basis of the configuration of the motor vehicle.

In an embodiment, the sensor arrangement has sensor sections on bothsides of the tow coupling and at least one sensor section in the regionof the tow coupling and in that, when the tow coupling is fitted oradjusted to the operating position, exclusively the sensor sections ofthe sensor arrangement that are on both sides of the tow coupling areactuated and in that otherwise at any rate the at least one sensorsection of the sensor arrangement that is in the region of the towcoupling is also actuated.

In an embodiment, a control arrangement for carrying out the methoddisclosed herein is provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to adrawing that shows just one exemplary embodiment and in which

FIG. 1 shows the rear region of a motor vehicle with a closure elementarrangement based on the proposal for carrying out the method based onthe proposal,

FIG. 2 shows a sequence for an operator control event to be sensed thatis based on the proposal, in the five stages a) to e),

FIG. 3 shows the signal profiles of two sensor elements during anoperator control event as shown in FIG. 2a ), b) with the tow couplingdismantled and c), d) with the tow coupling in the operating position,and

FIG. 4 shows an entirely schematic illustration of a detail from therear apron of the rear region shown in FIG. 1 in a front view a) withthe tow coupling dismantled and b) with the tow coupling in theoperating position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The method based on the proposal is explained below with reference to aclosure element arrangement 1 in a motor vehicle, said closure elementarrangement having a closure element 2 in the form of a rear hatch. Therefinement of the closure element 2 as a rear hatch of a motor vehicleis provided in an embodiment. However, reference may be made to theintroductory part of the description in respect of the broadcomprehension of the term “closure element”. In this respect, all thecomments pertaining to a rear hatch 2 apply correspondingly to all othertypes of closure elements.

The rear hatch 2 has an associated drive arrangement 3 that can be usedto prompt motor-driven adjustment of the rear hatch 2 between the closedposition shown in a solid line in FIG. 1 and the open position shown ina dashed line in FIG. 1.

In addition, a control arrangement 4 is provided that is used foractuating the drive arrangement 3, inter alia. A sensor arrangement 5having at least one sensor element 6, 7 in the form of a proximitysensor communicates with the control arrangement 4. The sensorarrangement 5, which is yet to be explained, is designed such that itcan be used to sense operator control movements.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the control arrangement 4 has acentral hardware structure. Alternatively, it is conceivable for thecontrol arrangement 4 to have a local hardware structure. In this case,a portion of the control hardware is some instances accommodated in thesensor arrangement 5. This means that the sensor arrangement 5 hasdedicated intelligence that can be used for signal preprocessing, forexample.

In this case, particular operator control movements are defined asoperator control events that are each meant to trigger a particularreaction from the control arrangement 4. In an embodiment, the operatorcontrol event is a foot movement by the operator, which is yet to beexplained.

In order to be able to react to the presence of operator control eventsas mentioned above, provision is made for operator control eventmonitoring that is performed by the control arrangement 4. In the courseof the operator control event monitoring, the control arrangement 4 isused to monitor the sensor measured values 8, 9 from the sensorarrangement 5 for whether or not there is a predetermined operatorcontrol event. The sensor events may be arbitrary discrepancies in thesensor measured values 8, 9 from the idle sensor measured values. Theidle sensor measured values 8, 9 obtain when there is no externalinfluencing of the sensor arrangement 5 by an operator or the like. Onthe basis of the result of the operator control event monitoring, thedrive arrangement 3 is actuated as appropriate, for example the rearhatch 2 is opened by a motor.

During use based on normal operation, it is possible for the mechanicalconfiguration of the motor vehicle to be altered by an adjusting processand/or by a fitting process in a manner that is yet to be explained. Theterm “use based on normal operation” means that it is possible for themechanical configuration of the motor vehicle to be altered without theneed to visit a workshop performing maintenance on the motor vehicle.

The mechanical configuration of the motor vehicle can be sensed forcontrol purposes by means of the control arrangement 4 by virtue of themotor vehicle component in question having an appropriate associatedstatus sensor that can be read by the control arrangement 4. It is alsoconceivable for the configuration to remain purely for control purposes,as explained above.

A fundamental aspect is now that the control arrangement 4 is used tosense the mechanical configuration of the motor vehicle and that theoperator control event monitoring is modified on the basis of themechanical configuration of the motor vehicle. The effect that can beachieved by this, in a manner that is yet to be explained, is that agood monitoring result is ensured even after a change of configurationfor the motor vehicle.

The mechanical configuration of the motor vehicle in the present sensemay comprise a multiplicity of subconfigurations. By way of example, themechanical configuration of the motor vehicle in this case and in someembodiments comprises the mechanical configuration of the closureelement 2, in this case the rear hatch 2 of the motor vehicle.

In addition, in this case a tow coupling 10 can be extended into anoperating position by way of a change of configuration. It is alsoconceivable for the tow coupling 10 to be able to be fitted to the motorvehicle in an operating position prior to being used. Alternatively orin addition, provision may be made for a change of configuration toinvolve a bicycle carrier being fitted to the motor vehicle in anoperating position.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, at least one operator control eventis defined as a foot movement by the operator. In this case, at leastone sensor element 6, 7 is arranged in or on a rear panelling portion11, in this case the rear bumper 11, of the motor vehicle. The at leastone sensor element 6, 7 in some embodiments extends over an essentialportion of the width of the motor vehicle, as is evident from theillustration shown in FIG. 2a ).

Specifically, at least one operator control event is defined as a to andfro movement by the foot of the operator. Depictions a) to e) in FIG. 2show the stages in the sequence of such an operator control eventcomprising a to and fro movement by the foot of the operator. FIGS. 3a )and b) show the resulting sensor events in the sensor measured values 8,9 from the two sensor elements 6, 7 for the case in which the towcoupling 10 is swivelled away or dismantled. FIGS. 3c ) and d) show theresulting sensor events in the sensor measured values 8′, 9′ from thetwo sensor elements 6, 7 for the case in which the tow coupling 10 isswivelled into its operating position shown in FIG. 1.

The illustration shown in FIG. 3 reveals the fact that during theoperator control event the at least one sensor element 6, 7 produces apulsed time profile for the sensor measured values 8, 9. This pulsedtime profile is called a “sensor pulse” in the present case.

It has already been pointed out that the term “modification” of theoperator control event monitoring can be interpreted broadly, whichmeans that there are a large number of options for this modification. Aseries of modifications are explained below.

The illustration shown in FIG. 1 already reveals that a change ofconfiguration, in this case the adjustment or fitting of the towcoupling 10 to an operating position, will prompt a decrease in sensormeasured values 8, 9/8′, 9′ as a result of shadowing and reflectioneffects or the like. This is also evident from a comparison of FIGS. 3a) and b) and FIGS. 3c ) and d). These clarify that the respective signallevel is substantially reduced by the tow coupling 10 that is in theoperating position.

The decrease in the sensor measured values 8, 9 that is described abovecan be taken into account by means of particularly simple modificationof the operator control event monitoring. In this case, it is first ofall assumed that the sensing of sensor measured values 8, 9, in thiscase of sensor pulses, above an upper threshold 12 and/or below a lowerthreshold 13 will not be associated with any operator control event.Sensor measured values 8, 9 below the lower threshold 13 are produced bypassing people or the like, for example, whereas sensor measured values8, 9 above the upper threshold 12 can be produced by a wiping movementon the panelling portion 11. For the purpose of robust operator controlevent monitoring, sensor measured values 8, 9 above the upper threshold12 and below the lower threshold 13 are masked out in practice.

If, for example in the case of adjustment of the tow coupling 10 to itsoperating position, the values for the upper threshold 12 and the lowerthreshold 13 were retained, reproducible operator control eventmonitoring would not be possible, since the resulting sensor measuredvalues 8′, 9′ will always be in the region of the respective lowerthreshold 13 and hence masked out or not masked out on a random basis.It is therefore proposed that the respective upper threshold 12 and/orthe lower threshold 13 be altered on the basis of the configuration ofthe motor vehicle. Specifically, it is proposed that adjustment orfitting of a tow coupling 10 to its operating position involve the upperthreshold 12 and/or the lower threshold 13 being lowered. The loweredupper thresholds 12 and lower thresholds 13 are shown in FIGS. 3c ) andd). The upper thresholds 12 and lower thresholds 13 for the two sensorelements 6, 7 are different, which is indicated by the reference symbols12 a-d and 13 a-d in FIG. 3. The present explanations use only thereference symbols 12, 13, for the purpose of clear illustration.

An example of modification of the operator control event monitoring onthe basis of the mechanical configuration of the closure element 2, inthis case the position of the rear hatch 2, is that when the rear hatch2 is in the open position the operator control event monitoring isconditioned such that the dangling and possibly swinging legs of aperson sitting in the rear hatch opening are not sensed as an operatorcontrol event in the course of the operator control event monitoring.This makes it possible to effectively prevent people who are sitting inthe rear hatch opening from being put at risk in the course of anundesirable motor-driven closing process.

In a modification, it is assumed that an operator control event has anassociated operator control event model comprising signalcharacteristics, wherein in the course of the operator control eventmonitoring the control arrangement 4 is used to monitor whether thesensor measured values 8, 9 correspond to the signal characteristics ofthe operator control event model. Such an operator control event modelrepresents to a certain extent the form or the profile of the sensormeasured values 8, 9 during an operator control event. It is nowproposed that the operator control event model be produced on the basisof the mechanical configuration of the motor vehicle or be selected froma number of stored operator control event models on the basis of themechanical configuration of the motor vehicle or be parameterized on thebasis of the mechanical configuration of the motor vehicle.

In the simplest case, an operator control event has an associatedoperator control event set of characteristics comprising signalcharacteristics that are in turn matched against the sensor measuredvalues 8, 9 in the course of the operator control event monitoring. Theoperator control event set of characteristics is a simple form of anoperator control event model. According to the proposal, modification ofthe operator control event set of characteristics is accordinglyproposed on the basis of the mechanical configuration of the motorvehicle.

As explained above, at least one operator control event produces apulsed time profile for sensor measured values 8, 9 from at least onesensor element 6, 7, wherein in this case at least one signalcharacteristic as cited above is/are defined as a width and/or as aheight and/or as an edge gradient and/or as a curvature of portions ofthe sensor pulses and/or as a time offset between two sensor pulses froma sensor element 6, 7.

In a further embodiment, the modification of the operator control eventmonitoring can relate to the signal processing method on which theascertainment of the sensor measured values 8, 9 by means of the controlarrangement 4 is based. In this case, provision is made for the signalprocessing method to be defined by a signal processing set of parameterswith signal processing parameters such as minimum signal level, temporalmeasurement resolution or amplitude measurement resolution. According tothe proposal, the signal processing set of parameters is selected from anumber of stored signal processing sets of parameters on the basis ofthe mechanical configuration of the motor vehicle or is parameterized onthe basis of the mechanical configuration of the motor vehicle. By wayof example, provision may be made for a tow coupling 10 in the operatingposition to prompt the minimum signal level, which is processed furtherin the first place for control purposes, to be lowered and the temporalmeasurement resolution and the amplitude measurement resolution to beraised, in order to take account of the comparatively low signal levelwhen the tow coupling 10 is in the operating position.

It is also conceivable for the modification of the operator controlevent monitoring to relate to the evaluation of the digitized sensormeasured values 8, 9. Specifically, the operator control eventmonitoring first of all comprises the digitization of the sensormeasured values 8, 9, wherein the subsequent evaluation of the digitizedmeasurement data, particularly the matching against an operator controlevent set of characteristics, is performed on the basis of anappropriate evaluation method. The evaluation method is defined by anevaluation set of parameters with evaluation parameters such ascomputation accuracy or the type of matching algorithm. In this casetoo, it is proposed that the evaluation set of parameters be selectedfrom a number of stored evaluation sets of parameters on the basis ofthe mechanical configuration of the motor vehicle or be parameterized onthe basis of the mechanical configuration of the motor vehicle. By wayof example, it may be advantageous for the computation accuracy to beincreased when the tow coupling 10 is in its operating position, inorder to take account of the comparatively low signal level mentionedabove.

The modification of the operator control event monitoring on the basisof the proposal can, in principle, also relate to the actuation of thesensor arrangement 5. In this case, the term “actuation” has a broadmeaning and relates to all control measures that result in the sensormeasured values 8, 9 being ascertained. Specifically, it is proposed inthis case that in the course of the operator control event monitoringthe sensor arrangement 5 be actuated by means of the control arrangement4 on the basis of the mechanical configuration of the motor vehicle. Anexample of this is explained below with reference to FIG. 4.

As shown in FIG. 4, the sensor arrangement 5 is arranged in or on a rearpanelling portion 11, in this case the rear bumper 11, of the motorvehicle, the sensor arrangement 5 extending over a substantial portionof the width of the motor vehicle.

The sensor arrangement 5 is of elongate form and has, over its length,at least two sensor sections 5 a, 5 b, 5 c that can be actuatedseparately from one another by means of the control arrangement 4. Inthe simplest case, this means that the individual sensor sections 5 a, 5b, 5 c can be read individually.

A fundamental aspect of the latter variant is the fact that the sensorsections 5 a, 5 b, 5 c are actuated individually, in groups oraltogether on the basis of the configuration of the motor vehicle.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 4, a total of three sensorsections 5 a, 5 b, 5 c are provided, of which the sensor sections 5 a, 5c are arranged on both sides of the tow coupling 10 and the sensorsection 5 b is arranged in the region of the tow coupling 10. When thetow coupling 10 is in the operating position, exclusively the sensorsections 5 a, 5 c of the sensor arrangement 5 that are on both sides ofthe tow coupling 10 are actuated. This is the case for the configurationof the motor vehicle that is shown in FIG. 4b ).

Otherwise, that is to say when the motor vehicle is configured as shownin FIG. 4a ), all the sensor sections 5 a, 5 b, 5 c of the sensorarrangement 5 are in this case actuated. This is also appropriate, sincethe middle sensor section 5 b in FIG. 4 operates uninfluenced by the towcoupling 10 when the tow coupling 10 is swivelled away or dismantled. Inthe case of the configuration shown in FIG. 4b ), it can be expectedthat the sensor measured values 8, 9 from the middle sensor arrangement5 b will be decreased by the tow coupling 10 and in this respect canmake a comparatively small contribution to the operator control eventmonitoring.

According to further teaching that can be attributed separatesignificance, the control arrangement 4 based on the proposal is claimedas such. Reference may be made to all comments that are suitable forexplaining the control arrangement.

1. A method for actuating a closure element arrangement in a motor vehicle, comprising: monitoring for an operator control event associated with a closure element arrangement in a motor vehicle, the closure element arrangement comprising a closure element, a drive arrangement associated with the closure element, a control arrangement and a sensor arrangement having at least one sensor element, wherein the monitoring for the operator control event comprises the control arrangement being used to monitor one or more sensor measured values from the sensor arrangement for whether there is a predetermined operator control event, and wherein a result of the operator control event monitoring is taken as a basis for actuating the drive arrangement, the mechanical configuration of the motor vehicle being able to be altered by an adjusting process and/or by a fitting process during use based on normal operation, wherein the control arrangement is used to sense the mechanical configuration of the motor vehicle and wherein the operator control event monitoring is modified on the basis of the mechanical configuration of the motor vehicle.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the mechanical configuration of the motor vehicle comprises the mechanical configuration of the closure element, particularly a position of the closure element.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein a tow coupling can be extended into an operating position by way of a change of configuration or can be fitted to the motor vehicle in an operating position, and/or wherein a bicycle carrier can be fitted to the motor vehicle in an operating position by way of a change of configuration.
 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one operator control event is defined as a foot movement by the operator.
 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein a predetermined change of configuration comprising an adjustment or fitting of a tow coupling to an operating position prompts a decrease in sensor measured values as a result of shadowing and reflection effects.
 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the operator control event monitoring is designed such that the sensing of sensor measured values above an upper threshold and/or below a lower threshold is not associated with an operator control event and wherein the configuration of the motor vehicle is taken as a basis for altering the upper threshold and/or the lower threshold.
 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein when the closure element is in an open position the operator control event monitoring is conditioned such that the dangling or swinging legs of a person sitting in the bodywork opening associated with the closure element are not sensed as an operator control event in the course of operator control event monitoring.
 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein an operator control event has an associated operator control event model comprising signal characteristics, wherein in the course of monitoring for the operator control event the control arrangement is used to monitor whether the sensor measured values correspond to the signal characteristics of the operator control event model and wherein the operator control event model is produced on the basis of the mechanical configuration of the motor vehicle or is selected from a number of stored operator control event models on the basis of the mechanical configuration of the motor vehicle or is parameterized on the basis of the mechanical configuration of the motor vehicle.
 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein an operator control event has an associated operator control event set of characteristics comprising signal characteristics, wherein in the course of the operator control event monitoring the control arrangement is used to monitor whether the sensor measured values correspond to the signal characteristics of the operator control event set of characteristics and wherein the operator control event set of characteristics is produced on the basis of the mechanical configuration of the motor vehicle or is selected from a number of stored operator control event sets of characteristics on the basis of the mechanical configuration of the motor vehicle or is parameterized on the basis of the mechanical configuration of the motor vehicle.
 10. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one operator control event produces a pulsed time profile for sensor measured values from at least one sensor element and wherein at least one signal characteristic is/are defined as a width and/or as a height and/or as an edge gradient and/or as a curvature of portions of the sensor pulses and/or as a time offset between two sensor pulses from a sensor element.
 11. The method according to claim 1, wherein in the course of the operator control event monitoring the sensor measured values are ascertained by means of the control arrangement on the basis of a signal processing method, wherein the signal processing method is defined by a signal processing set of parameters with signal processing parameters and wherein the signal processing set of parameters is selected from a number of stored signal processing sets of parameters on the basis of the mechanical configuration of the motor vehicle or is parameterized on the basis of the mechanical configuration of the motor vehicle.
 12. The method according to claim 9, wherein monitoring for the operator control event comprises digitization of the sensor measured values and wherein a subsequent evaluation of the digitized measurement data comprising matching against the operator control event set of characteristics is performed on the basis of an evaluation method, wherein the evaluation method is defined by an evaluation set of parameters, and wherein the evaluation set of parameters is selected from a number of stored evaluation sets of parameters on the basis of the mechanical configuration of the motor vehicle or is parameterized on the basis of the mechanical configuration of the motor vehicle.
 13. The method according to claim 1, wherein in the course of monitoring for the operator control event the sensor arrangement is actuated by means of the control arrangement on the basis of the mechanical configuration of the motor vehicle.
 14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the sensor arrangement has sensor sections on right and left sides of a tow coupling and at least one sensor section in a region of the tow coupling and wherein, when the tow coupling is fitted or adjusted to a operating position, the sensor sections of the sensor arrangement that are on the right and left sides of the tow coupling are actuated or the at least one sensor section of the sensor arrangement that is in the region of the tow coupling is also actuated.
 15. A control arrangement for carrying out the method according to claim
 1. 16. The method according to claim 4, wherein the sensor arrangement has at least one sensor element in the form of a proximity sensor that is arranged in or on a rear panelling portion of the motor vehicle.
 17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the proximity sensor that is arranged in or on the rear panelling portion extends over a portion of the width of the motor vehicle.
 18. The method according to claim 17, wherein at least one operator control event is defined as a to and fro movement by the foot of the operator.
 19. The method according to claim 18, wherein during the operator control event the at least one sensor element produces a pulsed time profile for the sensor measured values.
 20. The method according to claim 6, wherein adjustment or fitting of a tow coupling to an operating position involves the upper threshold and/or the lower threshold being lowered. 